Tank-cleaning device



Jan. 6, 1931, A. FLETCHER TANK CLEANING DEVICE Filed Sept. 10. 192a m 7790/? F2 Emmi/i.

Patented Jan. 6, 1931 1 f UNITED;STATES ARTHUR LETCHER; F GRAHAM, oKnAHo AQAssIGnoR ToMAGnOLIA PETROLEUM COMPANY, OF DALLAS, TEXAS, A CORPORATION OF TEXAS TANK-GLEANIN DEVICE App1ication' filed September 10, 1828; sienna;304,978. I

Theinvention relateslto improvements in device for cleaningnm d waste. dirt or sediment, orthelike from'storage tanks. The

invention has: particular application for 5 such a device'in the-clieaningof oil storage" tanks.

' In the handlinggof oil, tanks are vided/for storing large quantities of various cuts or types of oil. Dirt, sediment waste and the like rapidly accumulate in these tanks, and settleto the bottom thereof. It has been the general practice in the past for a laborer to enter such a tank to remove these deposits. This has been a .costly as well as dangerous practice. There is generated in the tanks dangerous fumes which have led to many fatalities among the laborers who have been compelled to enter them for p cleansing purposes. 7 p

This invention comprises a cleaning .de-

vice for effectively removing the waste mud or sediment that accumulates in a tank without requiring the operator thereof to enter the interior of the tank.

With the foregoing conception in mind, the invention embodies a tool which may be contracted and readily-inserted into the interior, ofthe tank and operated therein from the exterior thereof, and with equal ease removed from the tank when the cleaning operation has been consummated.

In the preferred embodiment of my in vention I provide a tool having blades or wings that may be collapsed or folded to be .35 inserted through a pipe opening into the interior of the tank and which; blades or wings are then expanded from the exterior of the tank so that upon a reciprocation of a suitable handle the blades willodraw from sur- ,4.0 faces of the tank sediment or dirt accumudesignates a-suitable storage tank. -,ta.nk is provided with a pipe opening 2 drawings, wherein like reference characters ind cate, corresponding parts, the numeral 1 through which the contents of the tank may be discharged. The pipe is in close proximtank where dirt,

pair of collapsible wings or blades 4. As

each blade is of-thesam'e constructiona description of one" will suffice for both. Each blade is of angular formation.

each blade at its inner end is fashioned so as toprovide'earsjd and 7 fitting'over the handlej3' and ap' rtured to receive the pivot bolt 8 passing therethrough;

The side portion 9 of each b'ladelnayhave I a reben't part- 10 which-serves to strengthen the blade. The side" portion ofieach blade also carries an outstanding car 1 1- t'o-whiehalev'er'is connected forfthe purpose of operating theblade.

, It will be; observed that the blades are 'mou'nted'so that they may be drawn outwardly to extend atright angles to the"handle3. They are in this position when the tank is-to' be cleaned. It isfurthermore apparentthat the bl'adesor wings" collapse'so as'tosubstantially interfitionea'nother' and form in" their collapsed position a'continuation of the handle- 3.

' e To" actuate' the blades in order t'h'at' they may be collapsed when they enter the pipe opening 2' of the tank and expanded after they enterthis tank the" following mechanism is'provi'ded? I To the car 11 of e'acli blade thereis p'iv otallycennected a link 1 2 The forward end ofea'ch link isconnected with cross-pin 13;

which cross-pin traverses an elongated slot 14 nected with a tension'spring 15 disposed within the interior of tlielia'ndle, theforward end of the tension spring being connected to the pivot pin 13" for the collapsible blades. The

I I The top flange anearits outer end is tapered.while PATE T OFFICE g This in the-handle 'Theicrosspin' is also cons rin serves therefore to norinall Y ur 'e the blades in a collapsed position by reason of the links 12 connectedwith the pin 13 and the blades.

A pair of arms 16' are connected-with the cross-bolt 13, these arms having elongated slots 17 at "their'point of connection.

lVhcn the blades are collapsed the arms 16 extend at an; angleto the shaft or handle 3 and at an angle tothelinks 12. The forward end of each arm is connected to a manually. operable lever 18, the same having-separated 1 side portions 19 pivoted to the handle 3 beyond theelongated slot 14: therein; The "cone nection may be effected by the provision of. outstanding j pins 20 v V on the arms 1? which passthroujgh openings formed in rebent porrj tions 21 of the lev'er'18. The end ofthe lever- 18 3s provided with linger gripping evgtxevnpp slons 22'by means of which the samemaybe:

grasped to'operate the cleaning wings; This portion of the lever is also shaped to fit the contour of the shaft or handl'e3. Its oper ating lever and all of'its a ssociated mechanism is coextensive with the handle 3 In the use of this tool when it is to be in.-

1. A cleaning tool comprising a handle, an angular cleaning member having a flat top portion pivotally connected to said handle and a vertical scraper portion, means carried such position that said'vertical scraper portion extends outwardly at an angle from the handle, and means for releasing the retaining means and for permitting saidscraper pori tion to move into'alignment with said handle;

2. A cleaning toolcomp'risinga handle, a scraper .;n1e1nber pivoted to said handle, a longitudinal slot in said handle having a pin movable therein, a springsecured within said handle and attached to said pin, a link con--' nected to said so'rapermember and pin, and means attached to said pin for'retaining said member extended outwardlyfrom said handle,"said means being releasable to permit said spring to force said scraper member'into alignment with said handle.

r In testimony whereof I affix my signature. ARTHUR FLETCHER.

serted in a tankthe operating lever 18; is i thrown toward the collapsible cleaning ings 4. WVhen this lever passes its center point the. coil spring 15 acting upon the cross-bolt 13 urgesthis bolt and the links 12 forwardly.

This action of the spring serves to collapse or bring together the cleaning wings 14, Consequently thefentire mechanism can be inserted through asmall opening into the interior of the tank.

,When the wings enter the interior of a tank they mustthen be expanded in orderto ing the lever 18 and moving the same toward the rear of the handle 3 against the tension of thespring 15 the wings ,4 are drawn outbe brought an cleaning position." Bygraspwardly atv rightangles to the handle 3' I reciprocated inthe tank until deposits have been removed through the pipe opening therein. To remove the tool from the tank the wings are collapsed throughthe operation of the handle 18 in a manner which has heretofore been described. It isto be observed that when the wings are in an expanded or operating position the forward end of the handle projects beyond said wings topro tect them against injury in the tank.

Having thus described my invention, what Iclaim is: i

by said handle for retaining said member in sp in expandedtothereby holdsaid scraper 

